Chapter: Before the Storm
(Jay's POV)
The morning felt… too quiet.
Not peaceful.
Just quiet in a way that made my chest feel heavy for no reason.
I stood by the door, watching Keifer adjust his watch, his movements calm but slightly rushed.
His bag rested near the couch, ready.
He was leaving.
Just for a few days.
That's all.
So why did it feel like more?
"You're overthinking again," he said without even looking at me.
I frowned. "I'm not."
He glanced up, a small smirk forming. "You get that look when you are."
"What look?"
"That one."
I rolled my eyes. "You're annoying."
"And you love me."
"I do," I said instantly.
He paused.
Just for a second.
Like he still wasn't used to how easily I said it now.
Then he walked toward me.
Slowly.
"Come here," he murmured.
I didn't argue.
I stepped into him, and his arms wrapped around me, warm and familiar, like they were meant to be there.
Always.
"You'll be fine?" he asked softly, resting his chin lightly on my head.
"I should be asking you that," I replied. "You're the one going away."
"I don't like it," he admitted quietly.
"Work?" I teased.
"Being away from you."
My heart softened.
"It's just a day or two," I said gently. "I'll be right here when you come back."
He pulled back slightly, just enough to look at me.
"Promise?"
I smiled. "Promise."
But something in my chest twisted.
Just a little.
I ignored it.
"You better not forget me while I'm gone," he said, half teasing.
I laughed softly.
"Impossible."
"You say that now."
"I'll call you every hour if I have to."
"Don't," he said quickly. "I'll get nothing done."
"Exactly."
He shook his head, but he was smiling.
Soft.
Real.
"Take care of yourself," he said, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
"I always do."
"Jay."
"I will," I corrected, softer this time.
He studied my face for a moment.
Like he was memorizing it.
Every detail.
Every expression.
And for a second…
I felt that strange heaviness again.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked quietly.
"Just… making sure," he said.
"Of what?"
"That you're real."
My breath hitched slightly.
"You're weird," I whispered.
"And you love me anyway."
"I do."
He leaned down—
Pressed a slow, lingering kiss to my forehead.
Not rushed.
Not playful.
Something deeper.
"I'll be back before you even miss me," he
murmured.
I smiled softly. "Too late. I already do."
He exhaled quietly, then pulled away.
Picked up his bag.
Walked to the door.
"Keifer."
He turned.
"Come back quickly," I said.
"I will."
And just like that…
He left.
The door closed.
And the silence returned.
I stood there for a moment longer.
Then longer.
Then…
I exhaled slowly.
"It's just two days," I whispered to myself.
But my head felt slightly heavy.
My body a little off.
I shook it away.
"It's nothing."
And maybe…
That was the first mistake.
( later )
The house felt too quiet.
At first, it was peaceful.
No chaos. No teasing. No loud voices echoing through the halls.
Just silence.
I sat on the couch, my phone in my hand, staring at Keifer's last message.
"Text me when you eat."
I smiled faintly.
"Bossy," I murmured.
I stood up, stretching slightly—
And paused.
My head felt… weird.
Not pain.
Just… heavy.
Like something was pressing from the inside.
I frowned.
"Maybe I didn't sleep properly," I whispered to myself.
It was nothing.
Just tiredness.
I walked toward the kitchen, but halfway there—
The room tilted slightly.
I grabbed the edge of the table quickly
.
"Okay… that's new."
I let out a small laugh, trying to brush it off.
"Jay, you're being dramatic."
I drank some water.
Sat down.
Waited.
It passed.
Just like that.
"See? Nothing."
But later that evening—
It came back.
Stronger.
I was in my room, scrolling through my phone, when suddenly—
A sharp pain shot through my head.
I gasped softly, dropping the phone onto the bed.
"Ah—"
My fingers pressed against my temple.
It hurt.
Not like a normal headache.
This was… deeper.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Just a headache," I whispered.
"Just a headache…"
Minutes passed.
Or maybe longer.
I couldn't tell.
When I finally opened my eyes, everything felt… slower.
Heavier.
My phone buzzed.
Keifer.
I smiled weakly and picked it up.
Keifer: Did you eat?
I stared at the message.
Then typed:
Me: Yeah, I did. Don't worry.
Lie.
I hadn't.
I didn't feel like it.
Another wave of dizziness hit me.
Stronger this time.
I stood up too quickly—
Bad idea.
The room spun.
My vision blurred.
"Okay… not funny anymore," I muttered.
I reached out for the wall, steadying myself.
"Jay?" someone called from outside.
I tried to answer
"I'm—"
My voice came out weak.
The pain hit again.
Sharper.
Louder.
Like something inside my head was screaming.
My knees gave in slightly.
I held onto the wall tighter, breathing uneven.
"Just… breathe," I whispered.
"You're fine…"
But I wasn't.
Footsteps rushed closer.
"Jay?"
The door opened.
Everything blurred.
Voices became distant.
Faint.
"Hey—what happened?!"
"Jay, look at me—"
"Call someone—NOW!"
I tried to focus.
Tried to speak.
But my body felt too heavy.
Too weak.
My vision darkened at the edges.
And the last thing I felt—
Was the ground slipping away from me.
— Blackout —